Area athletes excelled in 2008

Shen coach Ken Strube earned two personal honors following the season. He was named his district's coach of the year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, and he was elected into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame. Strube entered the 2008-09 season with 512 career victories, the most for any Section II girls basketball coach.

Meanwhile, Mohonasen continued its rise through the Class A ranks by reaching the Sectional final before losing to Averill Park.

Shen's Meys brothers picked up their second state wrestling titles in March. Hunter Meys won the 189-pound championship by beating Josh Peters 7-3 in the finals, while Austin Meys pinned Collin Toney in the first period to claim the 171-pound title. Hunter won back-to-back state titles, while Austin picked up his first championship in three years.

The state title was one of two major accomplishments for Hunter Meys. The senior set a new national record for pins when he earned a first-period fall against Ian Morgan. It gave Hunter his 189th pin, which surpassed Steve Mocco's record of 188 that Mocco set in 2001.

The Shen hockey team extended its Sectional title streak to six years with a 3-0 victory over LaSalle in the Division I finals. The Plainsmen fell shy of the state final four, though, with a 3-2 triple overtime loss to West Genesee.

Four Shen swimmers had success at the state level. Michael Christine, Troy Nichols, Jacob Johnson and Ryan Brauer won the 400-yard freestyle relay at the state meet with a time of 3:10.90. Johnson and Brauer also earned individual titles. Johnson won the 50 and 100 freestyles, while Brauer finished first in the 200 individual medley. Shaker's Frankie Dyer, Brian Maloy, Steve Maxwell and David Rowley claimed the 200 medley relay title with a time of 1:37.40.

Other Section II athletes that won state titles in individual sports included Colonie's James Kehrer and its 800-meter relay team, Shen's Michelle Quimby and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake's Meaghan Gregory (indoor track and field), as well as Holy Names' Paige Chardevoyne (alpine skiing).